So, what's the verdict of Jovitalk on Richie's record?

Only if you beg him.

What I am shocked, and I mean absolutely shocked about, is the lack of talk box. I was so happy to realize it.

There is no talk box in any of his three solo albums.

Talk Box it´s so Bon Jovi I think




I think this record is great. I really like all the song, except World as ending...It´s a wasted track, weak.

There's minimal talk box in Stranger. Having no talk box in US isn't surprising, the boom if It's My Life didn't hit yet when they over-used it. He's used it as his "Calling card" for a lot of side projects so I really thought he'd use it throughout the record.

I give it a 5 out of 10.
Very mediocre album

I was contemplating between 3 or 4 but eventually gave it a 4. It's a weak one though. Nothing much on this album that gets me going. Feels dated, sounds contrived, lackluster creativity. To me, the only creative moments happen in the end-solo of Backseat Driver, verses and solos in Burn That Candle Down, and I really think that "I'll Always Walk Beside You" could have been a good song if less over-production and some decent singing (Richie honestly sounds like a strangled cat whenever some higher notes make an entrance, and the heavy vocal production is nowhere near close to "hide" that he really can't hit those notes at all). Same is true with Seven Years Gone. Great potential, truly awful production with layers upon layers like trying to fit the Empire State Building in my shoe. The last more positive note is ".... Broken Wing". Again some great potential that would have shone with a less "digital" approach with more air and breathe-ability.

The rest is naff. Borderline crap. Not even worth a 2nd listen even though I have given them all both 3, 4, and 5 chances. Doesn't grow, just pisses me off. I for one can't believe this guy wrote the masterpieces of albums SITT and US. Baffles me...

I am pretty confident that a lot of the stuff when played with a full live band will sound better, and not this over mixed, over produced wall of sound that both BJ and RS have been guilty of. Hell, even a clip of RS jamming Sugar Daddy today on Good Morning America sounded good ...

andi

Finally arrived today. Given it a few listens through so far, and its an average start sadly. A few of the songs have potential- Nowadays and Weathering The Storm are good (The Sex lyric is not cringey, but it seems out of place in an otherwise soppy song and love would work in its place). I dont get the hate for Sugar Daddy, the lyrics may well be awful but musically its nice to hear something a bit different- it doesn't suffer from being bland like some of the other songs. Seven Years Gone should be really good, but at the moment it just sounds a bit off production wise. Really don't like Burn The Candle Down- the start is a mess.

My opinions are open to change as I listen more, and I will seek out the acoustic performances on YT as the Every Road version was far better than the studio version so I will see if these. Whilst the album is not bad, it obviously suffers compared to ST and US which are monumental records at times and have such a great, crisp sound to them, but this is 14+ years down the line and a very different man to the one who wrote those albums. So for now its about a 6, but The Circle took a lot of listens for me to click, add to that the live shows and I'll see how it fares in a month or so.

If Jon was singing, this could be Have a Nice Day Part II. Half decent record overall. Can't even hold a candle to Stranger in This Town though. 5/10.

Richie Sambora - thanks for wasting your talent!

I'd give it a 6.

Some decent songs but dislike the production. It is growing on me though, no doubt.

Seven Years Gone and I'll Always Walk Beside You are excellent songs. I was hoping for more of this vain.
I disagree with some of the comments on the guitar work. I think Richie play well on the record, it's nice to hear him cutting loose a little.